A Strange Converter Death

[Ron]

I have an elderly relative to whom setting the microwave and the VCR
is an act of voodoo magic. Left alone with technology, she can do
dangerous things by just pushing buttons that I never thought
possible.

A while ago she went off the deep end with the remote of her digital
converter box and somehow actually killed the box by pushing buttons
on it's remote control like a maniac. I have no idea exactly what she
did, or how she did it, but now no matter what you do the box is
totally unresponsive to any kind of input. Even turning it on or off
by remote is no longer possible.

She now has a new box with new controller and I worry that she'll
destroy this one: when she can't do what she wants like change to a
particular channel, she goes nuts pushing buttons. If I hadn't seen
how she had killed the first box, I wouldn't have believed that anyone
could destroy a cable box just by button-pushing.

I don't suppose there's a way to fix the old one? Replacing them
without the coupons aren't cheap. Or is there a way to keep her from
ruining the one she has now?

Ron

 

[N_Cook]

Ron <ryon@dslnorthwest.net> wrote in message
news:21f5e20d-17dd-4dc0-a70c-120cdf532a65@g11g2000yqe.googlegroups.com...

I have an elderly relative to whom setting the microwave and the VCR
is an act of voodoo magic. Left alone with technology, she can do
dangerous things by just pushing buttons that I never thought
possible.

A while ago she went off the deep end with the remote of her digital
converter box and somehow actually killed the box by pushing buttons
on it's remote control like a maniac. I have no idea exactly what she
did, or how she did it, but now no matter what you do the box is
totally unresponsive to any kind of input. Even turning it on or off
by remote is no longer possible.

She now has a new box with new controller and I worry that she'll
destroy this one: when she can't do what she wants like change to a
particular channel, she goes nuts pushing buttons. If I hadn't seen
how she had killed the first box, I wouldn't have believed that anyone
could destroy a cable box just by button-pushing.

I don't suppose there's a way to fix the old one? Replacing them
without the coupons aren't cheap. Or is there a way to keep her from
ruining the one she has now?

Ron

A factory reset combination to get it back to normality?

An alcaholic I know manages to set his DVD unit into German and NTSC for PAL
UK area, so picture totally breaks up and you cannot progress through the
menus to get it back to English.

 

[Sansui Samari]

On Feb 20, 2:39 am, "N_Cook" <dive...@tcp.co.uk> wrote:

Ron <r...@dslnorthwest.net> wrote in message

news:21f5e20d-17dd-4dc0-a70c-120cdf532a65@g11g2000yqe.googlegroups.com...



I have an elderly relative to whom setting the microwave and the VCR
is an act of voodoo magic. Left alone with technology, she can do
dangerous things by just pushing buttons that I never thought
possible.

A while ago she went off the deep end with the remote of her digital
converter box and somehow actually killed the box by pushing buttons
on it's remote control like a maniac. I have no idea exactly what she
did, or how she did it, but now no matter what you do the box is
totally unresponsive to any kind of input. Even turning it on or off
by remote is no longer possible.

She now has a new box with new controller and I worry that she'll
destroy this one: when she can't do what she wants like change to a
particular channel, she goes nuts pushing buttons. If I hadn't seen
how she had killed the first box, I wouldn't have believed that anyone
could destroy a cable box just by button-pushing.

I don't suppose there's a way to fix the old one? Replacing them
without the coupons aren't cheap. Or is there a way to keep her from
ruining the one she has now?

Ron

A factory reset combination to get it back to normality?

An alcaholic I know manages to set his DVD unit into German and NTSC for PAL
UK area, so picture totally breaks up and you cannot progress through the
menus to get it back to English.

Sounds like my dad. I think he could chop your face off with the
remote control craziness he can come up with. He's drunk and old.
Drives me crazy sometimes having to reset everything for him.

 

[Andrew Rossmann]

In article <21f5e20d-17dd-4dc0-a70c-120cdf532a65
@g11g2000yqe.googlegroups.com>, ryon@dslnorthwest.net says...

A while ago she went off the deep end with the remote of her digital
converter box and somehow actually killed the box by pushing buttons
on it's remote control like a maniac. I have no idea exactly what she
did, or how she did it, but now no matter what you do the box is
totally unresponsive to any kind of input. Even turning it on or off
by remote is no longer possible.

If the remote is programmable, maybe it was accidentally set to a
different code.

It's possible she somehow got into some diagnostic or setup mode on the
box, which confused something.

I also assume doing a full pull-the-plug power cycle didn't help,
either?

Is it a full cable box, newer DTA, or some ancient converter?

--
If there is a no_junk in my address, please REMOVE it before replying!
All junk mail senders will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the
law!!
http://home.comcast.net/~andyross

 

[Jamie]

Ron wrote:

I have an elderly relative to whom setting the microwave and the VCR
is an act of voodoo magic. Left alone with technology, she can do
dangerous things by just pushing buttons that I never thought
possible.

A while ago she went off the deep end with the remote of her digital
converter box and somehow actually killed the box by pushing buttons
on it's remote control like a maniac. I have no idea exactly what she
did, or how she did it, but now no matter what you do the box is
totally unresponsive to any kind of input. Even turning it on or off
by remote is no longer possible.

She now has a new box with new controller and I worry that she'll
destroy this one: when she can't do what she wants like change to a
particular channel, she goes nuts pushing buttons. If I hadn't seen
how she had killed the first box, I wouldn't have believed that anyone
could destroy a cable box just by button-pushing.

I don't suppose there's a way to fix the old one? Replacing them
without the coupons aren't cheap. Or is there a way to keep her from
ruining the one she has now?

Ron

remotes are made cheap, they don't do well with the back boards for the

keys. Just get her a universal remote and program it for that box..

 

[Bob F]

Sansui Samari wrote:

On Feb 20, 2:39 am, "N_Cook" <dive...@tcp.co.uk> wrote:
Ron <r...@dslnorthwest.net> wrote in message

news:21f5e20d-17dd-4dc0-a70c-120cdf532a65@g11g2000yqe.googlegroups.com...



I have an elderly relative to whom setting the microwave and the VCR
is an act of voodoo magic. Left alone with technology, she can do
dangerous things by just pushing buttons that I never thought
possible.

A while ago she went off the deep end with the remote of her digital
converter box and somehow actually killed the box by pushing buttons
on it's remote control like a maniac. I have no idea exactly what
she did, or how she did it, but now no matter what you do the box is
totally unresponsive to any kind of input. Even turning it on or off
by remote is no longer possible.

She now has a new box with new controller and I worry that she'll
destroy this one: when she can't do what she wants like change to a
particular channel, she goes nuts pushing buttons. If I hadn't seen
how she had killed the first box, I wouldn't have believed that
anyone could destroy a cable box just by button-pushing.

I don't suppose there's a way to fix the old one? Replacing them
without the coupons aren't cheap. Or is there a way to keep her from
ruining the one she has now?

Ron

A factory reset combination to get it back to normality?

An alcaholic I know manages to set his DVD unit into German and NTSC
for PAL UK area, so picture totally breaks up and you cannot
progress through the menus to get it back to English.

Sounds like my dad. I think he could chop your face off with the
remote control craziness he can come up with. He's drunk and old.
Drives me crazy sometimes having to reset everything for him.

These people need to get jobs as QA testers.

 

[William Sommerwerck]

These people need to get jobs as QA testers.

Excellent point. I'm very good at crashing software.

I would suggest this... While the converter is turned on, pull the power
cord from the wall socket. This might cause it to unlock or reset. I've seen
this other devices -- a TV, LaserDisk plaer, and DVD player -- so it
couldn't hurt.

 

[hr(bob) hofmann@att.net]

On Feb 20, 3:28 pm, "William Sommerwerck" <grizzledgee...@comcast.net>
wrote:

These people need to get jobs as QA testers.

Excellent point. I'm very good at crashing software.

I would suggest this... While the converter is turned on, pull the power
cord from the wall socket. This might cause it to unlock or reset. I've seen
this other devices -- a TV, LaserDisk plaer, and DVD player -- so it
couldn't hurt.

Maybe also pull the battery in the remote for about 10 minutes, and
then start over.

 

[Bob AZ]

�He's drunk and old.

Drives me crazy sometimes having to reset everything for him.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Sansui

My Dad got old and new technology was beyond him. Drove my Sister and
I crazy. Now that he is gone I wish I had just one more day of it.
Everytime I am working in my shop I feel his presence again and again.
Perhaps this is Gods' way of keeping us together.

And now that I am old my children drive me crazy. Somehow my
generation missed an episode. Not sure what the episode is or was
either. They don't like the way I do anything. Clothes, friends,
hobbies, tools - you name it. But have no trouble hitting me up for
money. They have never acquired/learned any financial posture.

Oh well life goes on. Prayers and God keep me going. Wish my children
had the same course in life.
Bob AZ

 

[Sansui Samari]

On Feb 20, 9:59 pm, Bob AZ <rwatson...@aol.com> wrote:

  He's drunk and old.

Drives me crazy sometimes having to reset everything for him.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Sansui

My Dad got old and new technology was beyond him. Drove my Sister and
I crazy. Now that he is gone I wish I had just one more day of it.
Everytime I am working in my shop I feel his presence again and again.
Perhaps this is Gods' way of keeping us together.

And now that I am old my children drive me crazy. Somehow my
generation missed an episode. Not sure what the episode is or was
either. They don't like the way I do anything. Clothes, friends,
hobbies, tools - you name it. But have no trouble hitting me up for
money. They have never acquired/learned any financial posture.

Oh well life goes on. Prayers and God keep me going. Wish my children
had the same course in life.
Bob  AZ

Don't get me wrong, I love my dad to death. Actually, what really
pisses me off is digital television. Most of the people I know that
still even watched television via antenna are pretty freak'n old. Now
he's got 12 channels instead of 5, but he can't get the main 2
channels he used to watch. So he's stuck way up in the mountains
watching half assed cooking shows. Now they want to make him pay for
the garbage, and show commercials every 5 minutes on top of it. And
then the government helps pay to implement a shit ton of the
technology using my tax money. I didn't vote on this shit. ARGH!

I'd better calm down ..... So angry. Calm blue ocean, Calm blue
ocean......

 

On Sat, 20 Feb 2010 10:06:18 -0500, Jamie
<jamie_ka1lpa_not_valid_after_ka1lpa_@charter.net> wrote:

Ron wrote:

I have an elderly relative to whom setting the microwave and the VCR
is an act of voodoo magic. Left alone with technology, she can do
dangerous things by just pushing buttons that I never thought
possible.

A while ago she went off the deep end with the remote of her digital
converter box and somehow actually killed the box by pushing buttons
on it's remote control like a maniac. I have no idea exactly what she
did, or how she did it, but now no matter what you do the box is
totally unresponsive to any kind of input. Even turning it on or off
by remote is no longer possible.

She now has a new box with new controller and I worry that she'll
destroy this one: when she can't do what she wants like change to a
particular channel, she goes nuts pushing buttons. If I hadn't seen
how she had killed the first box, I wouldn't have believed that anyone
could destroy a cable box just by button-pushing.

I don't suppose there's a way to fix the old one? Replacing them
without the coupons aren't cheap. Or is there a way to keep her from
ruining the one she has now?

Ron

remotes are made cheap, they don't do well with the back boards for the
keys. Just get her a universal remote and program it for that box..


You have a good point. Perhaps the problem is the remote itself. A

digital camera will let you see if teh remote is actually producing an
infrared signal.

PlainBill

 

On Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:59:54 -0800 (PST), Bob AZ <rwatson767@aol.com>
wrote:

?He's drunk and old.
Drives me crazy sometimes having to reset everything for him.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Sansui

My Dad got old and new technology was beyond him. Drove my Sister and
I crazy. Now that he is gone I wish I had just one more day of it.
Everytime I am working in my shop I feel his presence again and again.
Perhaps this is Gods' way of keeping us together.

And now that I am old my children drive me crazy. Somehow my
generation missed an episode. Not sure what the episode is or was
either. They don't like the way I do anything. Clothes, friends,
hobbies, tools - you name it. But have no trouble hitting me up for
money. They have never acquired/learned any financial posture.

Oh well life goes on. Prayers and God keep me going. Wish my children
had the same course in life.
Bob AZ
Apparently you never got the memo. One of the advvantages of becoming

a 'Senior Citizen' (Or as I like to say, 'Old Fart') is the right to
pay back your children for some of the grief they ga

 

On Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:59:54 -0800 (PST), Bob AZ <rwatson767@aol.com>
wrote:

?He's drunk and old.
Drives me crazy sometimes having to reset everything for him.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Sansui

My Dad got old and new technology was beyond him. Drove my Sister and
I crazy. Now that he is gone I wish I had just one more day of it.
Everytime I am working in my shop I feel his presence again and again.
Perhaps this is Gods' way of keeping us together.

And now that I am old my children drive me crazy. Somehow my
generation missed an episode. Not sure what the episode is or was
either. They don't like the way I do anything. Clothes, friends,
hobbies, tools - you name it. But have no trouble hitting me up for
money. They have never acquired/learned any financial posture.

Oh well life goes on. Prayers and God keep me going. Wish my children
had the same course in life.
Bob AZ

Stories like this make me laugh. Apparently you never got the memo -
or threw it out as junk mail.

Becoming a 'Senior Citizen' (or as you refer to it , Old), conveys a
number of opportunities.

I have few problems handling new technology. However, pretending to
be confused by it does have certain advantages. The first is obvious
- it is one way to make sure the kids (and grandkids) come to see me
once in a while. The second is it also allows me to pay them back for
the grief they gave me while growing up!

PlainBill

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

PlainBill47@yahoo.com wrote:

On Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:59:54 -0800 (PST), Bob AZ <rwatson767@aol.com
wrote:

?He's drunk and old.
Drives me crazy sometimes having to reset everything for him.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Sansui

My Dad got old and new technology was beyond him. Drove my Sister and
I crazy. Now that he is gone I wish I had just one more day of it.
Everytime I am working in my shop I feel his presence again and again.
Perhaps this is Gods' way of keeping us together.

And now that I am old my children drive me crazy. Somehow my
generation missed an episode. Not sure what the episode is or was
either. They don't like the way I do anything. Clothes, friends,
hobbies, tools - you name it. But have no trouble hitting me up for
money. They have never acquired/learned any financial posture.

Oh well life goes on. Prayers and God keep me going. Wish my children
had the same course in life.
Bob AZ

Stories like this make me laugh. Apparently you never got the memo -
or threw it out as junk mail.

Becoming a 'Senior Citizen' (or as you refer to it , Old), conveys a
number of opportunities.

I have few problems handling new technology. However, pretending to
be confused by it does have certain advantages. The first is obvious
- it is one way to make sure the kids (and grandkids) come to see me
once in a while. The second is it also allows me to pay them back for
the grief they gave me while growing up!

Just wait till they pick out a nursing home for you, and see who is
paid back.


--
Greed is the root of all eBay.

 

[mm]

On Sat, 20 Feb 2010 02:26:46 -0800 (PST), Ron <ryon@dslnorthwest.net>
wrote:

I have an elderly relative to whom setting the microwave and the VCR
is an act of voodoo magic. Left alone with technology, she can do
dangerous things by just pushing buttons that I never thought
possible.

A while ago she went off the deep end with the remote of her digital
converter box and somehow actually killed the box by pushing buttons
on it's remote control like a maniac. I have no idea exactly what she
did, or how she did it, but now no matter what you do the box is
totally unresponsive to any kind of input. Even turning it on or off
by remote is no longer possible.

She now has a new box with new controller and I worry that she'll
destroy this one: when she can't do what she wants like change to a
particular channel, she goes nuts pushing buttons. If I hadn't seen
how she had killed the first box, I wouldn't have believed that anyone
could destroy a cable box just by button-pushing.

I don't suppose there's a way to fix the old one? Replacing them
without the coupons aren't cheap. Or is there a way to keep her from
ruining the one she has now?

Ron

Take the batteryies out of the remote for 15 minutes. If putting
them or fresh ones back in doesn't fix things, unplug the converter
box for 15 minutes. Or do these things in the opposite order.

 

[Ron]

A factory reset combination to get it back to normality?

The box is so badly locked up that it doesn't recognie *any* commands
from the control. ;-(

Ron

 

[William R. Walsh]

Hi!

Actually, what really pisses me off is digital television.

Hoo boy! (don't get me started -- oh wait)

I don't have much use for TV already, but let's face it...sometimes you
just need to watch something to be informed or entertained. Analog TV
may not have had high definition pictures or crystal clarity at all
times, but when the signal was bad you could at least watch (or listen).
And how many people kept a radio around that could at least receive VHF
TV audio? (Those used to be SO handy...and with much better battery life
than almost any portable TV could manage!)

I remember (!!) a time when a bad storm came rattling through town, and
it cut power, telephones, Internet, everything. I guess it's a sign of
the times to say that it made me (and others) feel strangely isolated,
by not being able to easily know what had transpired just outside of our
locale.

I am not one to be put off by such piffling details. I grabbed a 12" RCA
B&W portable TV set that I'd picked up at a garage sale, put it on the
tailgate of my truck, where it was somewhat sheltered under the topper
and plugged it into an inverter. And it worked. (That surprised me a
little to be honest. I wouldn't have thought that a cheap, well used TV
set would do so well running from the noisy, somewhat nasty output of a
12 VDC >120 volt AC inverter.) Yet it did, and we could see the weather
reports, as well as the news coverage of all the damage. (Surrounding
areas had been a lot more severely affected than ours.)

Half the neighborhood had soon gathered around the tailgate of my truck
to watch the TV news. I dare say it's been a long time since people from
multiple homes gathered around a TV like that. I heard someone comment
"well, if there was one person who would be able to watch TV..."*

The point is that I doubt you could do the same with today's over the
air digital TV. I was receiving only what a half busted built in antenna
could manage to pull in from a station 30 miles away at the time. ATSC
wouldn't have worked at all.

Digital TV has caused me to just about stop watching TV altogether.
Where I might have watched one or two hours a week, now I can go weeks
without necessarily turning the TV on. The fact that it doesn't work as
well for me as it did is the straw that broke the camel's back. Given
what passes for TV programming today, along with the advertising, I just
can't be bothered to fix it.

The FCC is getting ready to do it again, this time with wireless
microphones. I don't have or use any of those, but I know of people who
have thousands of dollars invested in such equipment and are getting
ready to see it all rendered illegal to operate, making it effectively
useless.

And while on the subject...I know we have digital over the air radio
broadcasts now...I'm hoping that nobody ever gets the bright idea to
mandate a switch there. Such a thing would really put a damper on the
enjoyment of my vintage radios. It wouldn't be the same listening to
them through a "converter box".

William

* yes, I'm pretty proud of that

 

[Ken G.]

I dont think she broke the convertor box . This stuff is made cheap and
breaks even when fairly new . the box just broke .